Mohan Lal Rs 5 crore gamble in TS, AP?

Malayalam superstar Mohan Lal has a new challenge ahead in the two Telugu states. The producers of his upcoming dubbed film ‘Odiyan’ have reportedly spent more than Rs 5 crore including on publicity believing that the Malayalam star will pull off a big winner. “It is the highest price paid for a dubbed Malayalam film till date,” says distributor Bharat Bhushan who feels that it could be a gamble of sorts in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

“Very few Malayalam movies have worked among the Telugu viewers,” he adds. Incidentally, Mohan Lal’s earlier dubbed action film ‘Mannem Puli’ was his maiden dubbed film that struck a chord with the Telugu audience. “It was bought for Rs 1.5 crore but it made more than Rs 6 crore collections since Mohan Lal’s craze was at its peak last year. Since the straight Telugu film ‘Janatha Garage’ with Jr NTR was a blockbuster and the Malayalam star was also seen in another Telugu film ‘Manamantha’, albeit, it was a flop,” Bharat reasons.

These days, even dubbed films of Dulquer Salmaan, the only Malayalam star to make waves in T-town with ‘Mahanati’, had to taste bitter flops like ‘Kali’ and ‘Hey Pillagada’. However, Mohan Lal’s upcoming film is a slam bang action film that has a chance to impress the Telugu viewers. “If it is as promising as it was shown in the trailer, Mohan Lal can bounce back in the Telugu states,” concludes Bharat.